Still cant get over Widdop what a joke, noone mentions a problem with hin but everyone jumps on the Giant bashing soon as possible. Especially after how well we have competed over the past few years with the same players. Not happy who would you have picked.

Its ok, to read some peoples comments its not actually worth sending them anyway...

Great things will happen over there, get your money on before the comp but wait for another point.

Briscoe a 'tryer'?! After watching this lad for the past 3 years or so, it's evident that he's something special. He's freakishly strong, particularly when running the ball from his own 20, capable of superb defence and makes tries out of nothing rather than given to him on a plate. To be honest, he's wasted at Hull and I hope he gives the NRL a crack when his deal ends.

My 17:

Widdop
Briscoe
Atkins
Ellis
Hall
Brown
S. Tomkins
Graham
Roby
Morley
J. Tomkins
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Robinson
Burgess
Crabtree
Fielden

Another thing of note is we hear all this about us having the best pack but we always seem to tire badly after an hour against the aussies. Id be looking at the forwards with the best engines on them. Newton le Willows' team is a good reflection of that.

^Spot on.


I was 2 years old when that team ran out, what place do I have judging them to todays' players? Nice that you picked The Unbeatables to prove your point though. I've already stated that I believe our 2003 and 2004 teams were worse than this year's. You can take that as my counter-point if you wish, otherwise i'll just assume you made an exaggerated comment.

Why no lynch/scruton?

The 03 team was a poor side and we SHOULD have won that series, dont care what anyone says. To be fair the England team today would stick 50 on that GB team imo and we're a very young side. Depending on how things go over the next couple of years it looks pretty good for the '13 WC.

IMO Australia have a problem until they raise that Salary Cap. Without digressing too much you take say the top 3 players from each NRL side and there are some VERY ordinary sides. The depth isnt there anymore imho because too many players are finding themselves out of the game being replaced by younger cheaper options. Aus are still way out in front dont get me wrong but we're catching them, fast. Give the likes of Briscoe, Eastmond, Tomkins (both), Burgess, Hall, Shenton et al a few years and when they start shaving, we will go okay.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda.... the fact is you lost.

3-0.


How on earth can you possibly say it's looking good for England in the 2013 world cup?

I'm sure England will improve... my god... they cant get much worse.

But sadly for england all the other nations will improve as well... and they will improve more than England.

I disagree.

Fair enough, thats what a forum is all about.

The only thing that will go in Englands favour is the fact it's being held in England.

The gulf between the Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere sides is no closer than it was 10 years ago.

The general all round standard of RL has improved worldwide but to suggest England are 'getting closer' is crazy.


In my opinion of course.

NZ win the world cup then don't even make the final of the 4 nations a year later...

england do at the world cup then make the final of the 4 nations a year later...


who improved???

If you judge improvement by beating a New Zealand side who had a poor third game and then being belted 46-16 in the final by Australia I think you need to log off and go and lie down somewhere until the nice nurses come along with your medication






How did England fare against Cumbria the other night??

you make it sound like it was the full strength england team that played cumbria ya clown..

And ignore the fact that cumbrian side had england internationals in it.

Still quite a few familiar faces in there though?

Riley (Warrington), Fox (Hull KR), Shenton (Castleford), Clubb (Harlequins), Briscoe (Hull), Sykes (Bradford), Myler (Warrington), Lynch (Bradford), Higham (Warrington), McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), Westerman (Castleford), Westwood (Warrington), Langley (Bradford). Subs (all used): Atkins (Warrington), Carvell (Warrington), Scruton (Bradford), Harrison (Warrington), Murrell (Hull KR), Broughton (Salford).


The Cumbia side were just thrown together and featured players from top superleague sides 'Barrow' 'Workington' and 'Egremont'





Cumbria: Broadbent (Barrow), Gardner (St Helens), Mossop (Workington), McAvoy (Whitehaven), Sharp (Hull), Wilkes (Harlequins), Campbell (Barrow), Dowes (Hull), Pedley (Workington), Amor (Leeds), McDermott (Barrow), Miller (Whitehaven), Purdham (Harlequins). Subs (all used): Mattinson (Whitehaven), Hill (Whitehaven), McNally (Huddersfield), Coward (Workington), Frazer (Workington), Low (Workington), Brocklebank (Egremont), Davis (Egremont).



Looking forward to seeing how PNG get on against England!

This tour will be an embarassment for England.

only 6 (?) of that england team have made the 4nations squad


and cumbria beat tonga in 2007 and drew with NZ 'A' in 2002....not a bad side really

You can't even spell the word let alone predict one.

Its true though.
I always support my country but its blind faith.
We'll beat PNG comfortably but its going to be a loooong tour

The forwards look very good, the backs look very bad, simple as that really. I'd line up like this:

Widdop
Briscoe
Shenton
Atkins
Goulding
Brown
Tomkins
Graham
Roby
Morley
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Burgess
Griffin
Harrison
Fielden

I think the bench i've gone for highlights just how bad the backs are. Robinson, Crabtree (For a start Keith Mason is better than Crabtree) and Clubb should be no-where near an England International side, and theres also arguments for other players that have been selected. We're struggling.

Burgess on the bench.

Yet everyone on the forum seems to think he is the best forward in the whole goddamn universe?

You will be popular for that post!

Actually the England tour will be short if anything.

They will be on the plane home on November the 7th

Burgess is a quality forward, no doubt about it, even if you don't like to admitt it. Its a 17 man game, and Burgess could offer a lot of impact, wether that be at loose forward, second row or prop.

Harrison over Joel Tomkins? Really?